On September 28th in Palu, Indonesia, a huge and devastating earthquake hit that killed hundreds and caused an incredible amount of destruction. It triggered underwater landslides that caused massive 10 to 20 foot tsunami’s that swept the city. Through this pain emerged a miracle, where one pilot testified that God’s voice saved his life and the lives of his passengers.

Captain Ricosetta Mafella of Batik Air had been feeling uneasy that entire day, but didn’t know why. To offset his feelings of distress, he began to loudly sing worship songs on his flight from Ujung Pandang to Palu.

“Usually I only hummed, but that day I wanted to praise the Lord as best I could,” Mafella said. “God seemed like He was saying, ‘Hey just praise me and worship me.'”

His Muslim co-pilot could tell Mafella wasn’t acting normal, and made the joke “I think you should make a CD of worship songs.”

When the two were about to land at the Palu Airport, the wind was unusually strong and Mafella “heard a voice in his heart” directing him to circle again before landing. He remained calm and recalled Pslam 23 as he landed. This detour delayed his arrival by nine minutes.

Once on the ground, Mafella felt the Holy Spirit speaking to him saying “Be quick, get out of this place. Depart early.” He obeyed what he heard and began rushing the team to get out of the city.

“I didn’t even leave the cockpit and requested permission from the control tower to depart three minutes ahead of schedule,” he said.

He received the go ahead from Air Controller Anthonius Agung, and the crew prepared for departure. He said he felt such an urgency that he broke with standard flight procedures and took over some of his co-pilot’s duties in order to speed up their leave time.

“I don’t know why but my hand kept pushing the lever causing the plane to speed up as it took off,” he said.

Mafella and his co-pilot became fearful when the plane’s body was strangely swaying left and right. Unbeknownst to them, it was due to the earthquake beginning.

Captain Mafella tried to communicate to the Control Tower several minutes later, but he received no response.

Then he looked down and saw an unusual sight. “The sea water on the coast was forming a very large hole so that the foundation of the sea bed could be seen,” he reported. “I saw circles getting bigger and bigger. I thought it was very strange.”

When the plane arrived in Ujung Pandang, he was told the shocking news that there had been an earthquake and tsunami in Palu.

He recalls, “The quake started at the Donggala area 5:55 pm. I pushed back at 5:52. The highest 7.7 and 7.4 magnitude hit exactly after my lift off!”

“If I had taken off three minutes later, I would not have been able to save the 140 passengers, because the asphalt on the landing strip was moving up and down like a curtain blowing in the wind,” he testified.

The air controller, Anthonius Agung, made sure their plane – the last to leave the airport — had safely taken off before he jumped from the crumbling control tower at the height of the quake.

“They said people tried to call him to get away from the tower, but he said, ‘No, the aircraft isn’t airborne yet.’ Then the roof started collapsing and he jumped.

Tragically be passed away, but Agung’s dedication to helping Mafella is nothing short of a heroic act.

“In this difficult time, during the split seconds of decisions, he waited for me until I was safe before he jumped. That’s why I call him my guardian angel.”

Mafella, who was already a devout Christian, explains that this is just another way to see God’s incredible hand in the world.

“It is important that we are hear the voice of God,” he said.

“And whatever happens we must be calm, not in a panic, so that we can clearly hear the voice of God coming to us by the Holy Spirit.”